Transplantation News

Patients with sickle cell disease-related kidney failure experienced similar reductions in mortality following transplantation as those whose kidney failure stemmed from other causes, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins.

Placing Black patients on the waitlist at “slightly” higher levels of kidney function than the current standard may help mitigate some persisting racial disparities in access to kidney transplantation.

The 5-year mortality rate for veterans who received care through Medicare after undergoing kidney transplantation was double that of those who received care through the Veterans Health Administration, study results showed.

Having a first-degree relative with a history of end-stage kidney disease did not appear to increase the risk for long-term kidney function decline or hypertension in African American kidney donors, according to study results.

Despite research and policy changes from an increasing awareness that access to kidney transplantation is limited for many Americans with kidney failure, researchers found no improvements in access to transplant in 2 decades.

A thematic analysis of health records revealed the current system for kidney transplant evaluation is “rigid and demanding,” leading researchers to conclude work must be done to individualize the process and make it more collaborative.

For kidney transplant recipients hospitalized with COVID-19, neither reducing nor withdrawing immunosuppression therapy led to allograft rejection or the development of donor-specific antibodies.

Researchers who compared kidney transplant recipients randomized to withdrawal or continue corticosteroids 7 days after the procedure found no difference in allograft survival at 15 years.

The National Kidney Foundation has selected UnitedHealth Group as the recipient of its 2021 corporate innovation award, which will be presented at the organization’s virtual Spring Clinical Meetings.

Finding that race and social determinants of health played a role in patients’ likelihood of receiving a kidney transplant, researchers contended that interventions targeting specific patients are needed.